A Perfectly Gluten Free Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving can be stressful for those who are gluten free, but it doesn’t have to be! You can have a successful gluten free Thanksgiving!

This post is part of a collaboration between perfectlyfree® and My Gluten Free Miami. All opinions are my own.

Celiac & the Holidays

It was about four years ago, right before Thanksgiving, that I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I was confused enough about navigating everyday life with Celiac, but a Holiday? That was a whole other ball game.

We were going to my in-laws, and thus far they’d been supportive but didn’t really understand. I went prepared not to eat, and low and behold everything they made was naturally gluten free. They had taken every precaution and even skipped making the traditional stuffing. I had made a gluten free pumpkin cheesecake for dessert, and it was terrific. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy.

Navigating gluten free at Thanksgiving, or any holiday can be beyond stressful. I’ve partnered with perfectlyfree to bring you a few tips and tricks for navigating Thanksgiving while maintaining a strict gluten free diet.

Gluten Free Thanksgiving

Turkey is naturally gluten free, a turkey stuffed with stuffing is not.

Once that gluten-filled bread hits the turkey, it is no longer gluten free. When purchasing turkeys, also check ingredients to make sure that your turkey is not injected with any broths containing wheat.

Consider hosting yourself!

It’s not always possible, but if you can, host the meal in your own home. Ask guests to bring simple sides and label them to avoid cross-contamination.

Bring a gluten free dish to share!

Take a dish you love, clearly label it and serve a portion for yourself before anyone else gets any!

Bring your food.

If you do not feel comfortable eating, remember your health comes first. Eat before you go or bring your plate of food.

Watch out for hidden ingredients.

Many things should be gluten free, but you have to be careful. Chicken broth often contains wheat, many seasonings should be, but aren’t. Read packages carefully, when in doubt skip it.

Final Thoughts

Thanksgiving and holidays are about being with friends and family. Try to make the best of whatever situation is handed to you. If things don’t go as plan, have a special treat ready for you at home!

perfectlyfree makes seven different flavors of coconut cream deliciousness that are the perfect end to a Thanksgiving Day! I even took my Coco Vanilla Bites and turned them into turkeys. My little one was so excited. They are so good! Who doesn’t love a turkey made of ice cream?

If you want another easy and delicious treat to share, try these Gluten Free Brownie Cups topped with a perfectly free frozen bite!

Do you have a tip for managing a gluten free Thanksgiving? Share it in the comments!

Those turkey bites look amazing! This is first year since my son was diagnosed with Celiac that we are not hosting. He is going to cook his favorite parts of the meal (the turkey leg and gf stuffing), the day before and bring it with him, along with an Annie’s mac-n-cheese cup 😉 I’m making a couple of GF desserts to share. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Amanda

Several years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, which requires a strict gluten-free diet, it's hard, but you CAN live gluten-free and not feel like your missing out! Follow along for all my recipes, tips and tricks for living gluten-free.